"I saw something happening in Palm Beach: all of my friends were wearing these velvet evening slippers. I thought I could do something more diverse and more whimsical with them"

Mr Percy Steinhart, founder, Stubbs & Wootton

With a name like Stubbs & Wootton you would be forgiven for thinking that this slipper specialist is a British heritage brand. The truth - that the firm was launched in 1993 in Palm Beach, Florida - is more unusual, and goes a long way to explaining the appeal of its shoes, which are at once classically elegant and fashion forward, with tongue-in-cheek designs inspired by everything from history to surfers. Founded by Mr Percy Steinhart, a former investment banker, "to give the slipper its due recognition as an all-purpose shoe", Stubbs & Wootton has not just found favour with prepsters, fashion insiders and celebrities, but is also responsible for making evening slippers relevant once again. And you'll be seeing a whole lot more of them in the coming months, as numerous designers included the evening slipper in their AW12 shows.

These slippers are not just for wearing at night, though. They go brilliantly with a tuxedo, with shorts, and with everything in between: "[They] may be worn at all times - with shorts and jeans to tweeds, blazers, suits and of course dinner clothes. They work from day into dawn," Mr Steinhart tells us. Whether you opt for an unadorned velvet pair for a classic look (à la Prince Albert), or an upbeat needlepoint embroidered pair (perhaps to team with a silk gown in the manner of Mr Hugh Hefner), the European production ensures superior quality - and at an attractive price point to boot. And the story behind the name? Mr Steinhart borrowed the names of two of his favourite 18th-century English artists, Mr George Stubbs and Mr John Wootton, both of who specialised in painting scenes of gentlemanly sporting pursuits - fitting for a brand that deals in masculine elegance.